Jammu
and Kashmir, India's northernmost state, consists of three regions differing
in topography and culture. In the south, Jammu is a transition zone from the
Indian plains to the Himalayas. Jammu was the stronghold of Hindu Dogra
kings and abounds with popular temples and secluded forest retreats. It
includes the city of Jammu, the state's winter capital. The Kashmir Valley,
the second region, is a large, fertile, region enclosed by the high
snow-capped ridges of the Pir Panjal range to the west and south, and the
main Himalaya range to the east. Its' population is predominantly Muslim,
with a history that can be traced back to the 14th century. It includes the
city of Srinagar, the state's summer capital. Ladakh is the northern-most
region of the state, with a bleak terrain of barren mountains. Hilltop
monasteries make Ladakh one of the best living traditions of Tibetan
Buddhism in the world today.

The state has been subject to political unrest since the late
1980s. The following is for information only, travellers are advised to
contact their embassy in Delhi before travelling to these regions.

Cities

Srinagar

The state's summer capital used to be India's most popular
hill station, and a favourite locale for shooting Hindi films. Visit:

Sonmarg, 80 km north-east of Srinagar and at an altitude
of 2743 metres, this is strewn with alpine flowers, giving it the
sobriquet of "Meadow of Gold"

•

Gulmarg, which has the highest golf course in the world,
and spectacular views of the towering mountains including Nanga Parbat
(26624 ft.)

•

Pahalgam, 98 kms from Srinagar, en route to which are the
ruins of the Vishnu temple of Martund, the Mattan (Shiva) Temple, and
the Achbal Gardens

•

Wular Lake, the largest fresh water lake in Asia

Fast Facts
of Jammu & Kashmir

Area

222,236

Population

10, Million

Capital

Srinagar

Climate in Summer

March to June - [Warm]

Climate in Monsoon

July to September - [Warm]

Climate in Winter

Nov. to Feb - [Cool & Pleasant]

Clothing in Summer

Cotton

Clothing in Winter

Woolens or Cotton

Languages Spoken

Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu & Ladakhi

Best Time to Visit

May
to September

Places To
Visit in Jammu & Kashmir

Dachigam

At one time the exclusive hunting
preserve of the Maharaja of Kashmir, this park contains the last viable
population of hangul, related to the red deer of Europe. There are some 20
other mammal species including the snow leopard, and over 150 species of
fauna.

Ladakh

Ladakh is the north-eastern part of
J&K. Leh, at 9,500 feet above sea level, is its capital. To its north and
north-east is the disputed Aksai Chin area adjoining China and Tibet. To the
west and north-west lies Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, including the highest
active battlefield of the world: Siachen Glacier. This land of high passes
marks the boundary between the peaks of the western Himalaya and the vast
Tibetan plateau. Opened up to tourism in 1974, Ladakh has been variously
described as 'the Moonland', 'Little Tibet' and even 'the last Shangri La'.
It is one of the most remote regions of India, a cold desert that extends to
vertigo inducing heights of over 25,000 feet. The second coldest inhabited
place on earth, Draz, is located in western Ladakh. The Ladakhis' roots lie
in Tibet. Their predominantly Buddhist culture revolves around gompas
(monasteries) and chortans (stupas). The population are engaged
mostly in rudimentary agriculture, livestock farming and lately, tourism.
Among the not-to-be missed gompas, are the ones at Alchi, Phayang,
Thikse and Hemis. some of the finest specimens of Buddhist art - in the form
of frescos, wall paintings and tankhas, many of them a few centuries
old. Some of the old, priceless artefacts displayed only during the annual
festivals are a rare treat to see. The themes are invariably religious,
emphasizing the purity, the humility and the power of shakt.